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Thursday December 17, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:36PM CST on December 17, 2009
Show to see - The psychedelic rock band
Ladymoon will take the RIBCO stage at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. The
Indianapolis-based group also dabbles in ska and reggae and is
working on its second album.
Cover is $4, and RIBCO is at 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/ladymoonmusic or www.ribco.com on the Web. For teens - The Anime Club will watch episodes from this month's featured DVD when it gathers next week. Past selections have included "Gunslinger Girl," "Solty Rei" and "Black Cat." The meeting begins at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, in the Junior League Program Room at the Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive. For more information or to suggest future anime to watch, contact John Gillette at (563) 344-4188. For the family - Children and their families can make and play board games from countries around the world at the Family Museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf. The program is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, free with museum admission, which is $6 for those 2-59 years old, $4 for senior citizens and free for children younger than 2 as well as members. For more information, call (563) 344-4106 or visit www.familymuseum.org on the Web. He said what? - Blues guitarist Lil' Ed Williams, whose career has spanned more than 20 years, on vinyl versus CD: "I loved the vinyls. I think the covers were great. Everything was huge, you could see the people better. CDs are so small and compact that you can't really get a good action shot going." Thursday October 22, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:53AM CST on October 22, 2009
Wednesday October 21, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:37PM CST on October 21, 2009
But The Wooden Birds have sent us one pair of tickets to their Daytrotter Presents show at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. The show begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. The Uglysuit and Hallelujah the Hills are also on the bill. But this is how the ticket giveaway will work. Keep an eye on my Twitter account, @S_DePasquale, on Friday. At some point, I will send out a tweet that reads, "The Wooden Birds." When you see that, reply to me as fast as you can, and the first person to respond will get the free tickets. For those of you who aren't on Twitter, it's a social networking site where you can let people know what you're up to and have conversations with folks - in 140 characters or less at a time. It's free to use and you can sign up for an account at www.twitter.com. Thursday September 24, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 9:47AM CST on September 24, 2009
The band will take the stage for the free show at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/supernuatband or www.uptownbargrill.com. For teens - The Davenport Public Library will celebrate Banned Books Week with an open mic night. Teens are invited to recite original poetry, rap, monologue or perform a song. The event is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, Fairmount Branch Library, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport. For more information, visit www.davenportlibrary.com or call Christie Vogt at (563) 326-7832. For the family - Families can listen to three scary stories on the lawn of the Colonel Davenport House on Arsenal Island and take a tour of the historic building. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for children or $10 per family. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. The tours begin at 5:45 p.m. with the story time at 7 p.m. For more information, call (309) 786-7336 or visit www.davenporthouse.org. He said what? -Singer/songwriter Gary Jules on how his failures dwarf his successes: "A lot of the songs you write you think, 'Wow, that's the best song I ever wrote.' And it's not all the time that everybody else things that, too. I sort of got used to clipping the wings of my expectations a little bit so as not to set myself up to be disappointed." Thursday June 4, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 7:48PM CST on June 4, 2009
Pattern is Movement will take a break from their tour with St. Vincent to perform at Huckleberry's Pizza Parlor, 223 18th St., Rock Island. The duo's latest album, "All Together," has received positive reviews from several music publications including Pitchfork, as well as the New York Times. Netherfriends will open the show, which begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 6. Cover is $4. For more on Pattern is Movement, read the full preview here. For the family The Quad-City Botanical Center in Rock Island is offering a Pixie Tea Party at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 6, with garden party dresses, glitter and wings optional. Pixie-sized sandwiches and cakes will be served along with the making of magical crafts with a pixie wand to take home. The cost is $10. For more information call (309) 794-0991. He said what? East Moline rapper Calliko on why he doesn't rap about guns or violence. "I don't get down like that. I'm more into music that people can listen to, to get through the day, whether you're getting ready to go out or you're going through something, you had a breakup or you're madly in love with someone." For more about Calliko check out the preview of Swag Fest here. For teens The deadline for entries for the fourth annual Teen Battle of the Bands is Wednesday, June 10. The top three bands will receive a cash prize and two paid gigs over the summer. The Teen Battle of the Bands is part of the Davenport Public Library's Summer Reading Program. To sign up, call (563) 326-7893 or visit http://www.davenportlibrary.com/. Thursday May 21, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 1:25PM CST on May 21, 2009
It's Memorial Day weekend and that means The Travoltas will make the trip from Canada to the Quad-Cities to play ‘70s covers at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Opening for the silver-sequined band are Minus Six on Saturday, May 23, and The Premium Sellouts on Sunday, May 24. Both shows will be held outdoors, weather permitting. Cover is $10, $12 for those younger than 21 years. If the shows have to be held inside, cover will be $15 for those 21 years and older only. In case of rain, the shows will begin at 10 p.m. For the family The Modern Woodmen Bank Quad-Cities Criterium will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, May 25, in The District of Rock Island. The event will feature 500 bicyclists competing in races through the downtown streets. There also will be food and activities for the whole family. Admission to the event is free. For more information, call (309) 788-6323 or visit www.liveri.com on the Web. For teens The final Get Your Game On for the school year will be held Wednesday, May 27, at the Davenport Public Library. The event will be 3-5 p.m. at the Fairmount Street branch, 3000 N. Fairmount, Davenport. Teens can play video games on the Wii and PS2 for free. For more information contact Christie Vogt at either (563) 326-7900 or cvogt@davenportlibrary.com. He said what? Birth Control Records co-creator William Martin on what keeps area musicians playing: "You work all day long, a slave to the grind. You come home, you've got a wife and kids, but maybe once or twice a month you get up on stage and just go crazy. That's the best feeling in the world." Read more about Birth Control Records and Birth Control Productions by clicking here. Wednesday May 20, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 4:13PM CST on May 20, 2009
In a Quad-City Times article published Sunday, Anouar Darif said Davenport makes it easier for food vendors such as himself to do business than in The District of Rock Island. One of the reasons he gave was that the City of Rock Island requires vendors to have their cart cleaned and put away by 2:30 a.m. - 30 minutes before the closing time for District bars - whereas Davenport merely asks that vendors leave their space clean. I did an article during the winter on John Seum, who has been running the Egg Roll Express food stand in The District for more than a decade. He also was not thrilled with the 2:30 a.m. curfew for vendors. He doesn't like it mostly because a good portion of his business comes from patrons arriving in The District after the bars in Davenport close at 2 a.m. In Sunday's article, Zack Wenthe, Rock Island's downtown manager, said the reason for the 2:30 a.m. closing time is safety: The stands need to be loading up as crowds flood out of The District bars. Well, I think I have a solution that would work for vendors while keeping in mind the safety of bar-goers. Why not pass a new city ordinance that requires stands to either be cleared out by 2:30 a.m. or else vendors can't begin loading up their gear until 3:30 a.m.? Surely 30 minutes would be more than enough time to clear the plaza of bar-goers so vendors could safely load their equipment, and there likely would be fewer people in the streets at 3:30 a.m. than at 2:30 a.m., when patrons are still bar-hopping or heading home early to beat the rush of cars at The District's 3 a.m. closing time. Thursday May 14, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 5:38PM CST on May 14, 2009
Country band Boothill Ridge, which features a female lead and specializes in harmonies, will perform at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Boothill Ridge has been together for less than a year but has already released its first album, "5 Miles To Fame." Cover is $4. He said what? Before going to RIBCO for a Daytrotter Presents show, Drakkar Sauna will play at Nelsonville Music Festival, a three-day event that features Willie Nelson. "For a band like us, there's not really any choice. We get wonderful opportunities to do different stuff, but there's almost always on varying scales," said Wallace Cochran of Drakkar Sauna. "That's how it's always been for us, and we've always really liked it." For teens The Davenport Public Library is looking for new members in its Theatre Club. The club nurtures young actors and actresses giving them opportunities to participate in readers' theater and theater games. The club is free and will meet at 4 p.m. today at the Davenport Public Library, 321 Main St., Davenport. For more information, contact Tamra McConoughey at tmcconoughey@davenportlibrary.com or (563) 326-7900. For the family The Quad-Cities Experimental Aircraft Association will host a Young Eagles Rally for children 8 to 17 years old. Children will be able to take a free flight in a personal aircraft. The Young Eagles Rally will be held at Davenport Municipal Airport, 9010 Harrison St., Davenport. For more information, contact Keith Vasey at keith@vaseyaircraft.com or (309) 749-8881. Friday May 1, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:04PM CST on May 1, 2009
 Show to see RIBCO plans to host its first outdoor show of the year, if the weather holds as forecast this weekend. The Trippin Billies, a Dave Matthews tribute band, will headline, with Mark Joseph of Down Lo opening on Saturday, May 2. The show will be open to all ages if it is held outside on the plaza, with a $10 cover for 20-year-olds and younger. Those of legal drinking age can get in for $7, or $9 if the show is moved indoors at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Showtime is 8 p.m. if the night is clear, 10 p.m. in case of rain. For teens Prom-goers can get their picture taken for free and receive two 4-inch-by-6-inch color photos per couple at Genesis Medical Center, 1227 E. Rusholme St., Davenport. Genesis asks teens who participate in the offer to sign a pledge to have an alcohol-free prom. Participants also will be eligible to win a $100 gift certificate. For more information, call (563) 421-9275. For the family Families can listen to a choir of frogs at the Moonlight Frog Chorus Walk at the Wapsi River Environmental Educational Center, 31555 52nd Ave., Dixon, Iowa. The walk begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2. The event is free, and participants need only bring a flashlight and waterproof footwear. For more information, call (563) 328-3286. He said what? Ninja Gun frontman Johnathan Coody on why he takes a vitamin every day. “For a touring band, it’s definitely a challenge to stay healthy because you’re constantly switching to different temperature zones and the pressure is different. You’re eating at weird times and sleeping sporadically. ... I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is a great lifestyle.” Thursday March 19, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:26PM CST on March 19, 2009
 The Daytrotter Presents show at RIBCO Thursday night was unlike any performance I’ve ever been to. Michael Morris and William Fitzsimmons’ acoustic stylings and calm soothing vocals had the crowd sitting cross-legged on the dance floor and shooshing those who got too loud. Morris, who opened the show, sang about love in heavily punctuated phrases. Losing love, cultivating love, making babies out of love and of course screwing up love. Fitzsimmons’ songs were also mostly about love, or rather what happens when it goes away. His last two albums dealt with the divorce of his parents. The songs were sad, but there were moments of hope in them, such as the line “Love again, just not each other.” The intimate concert created a calming effect, almost in the same way as a mid-week candle-light prayer service. I left feeling rejuvenated. And it’s only fitting that a show unlike any other feature merchandise unlike any other. Fitzsimmons, who is known for his facial hair almost as much as his music, had T-shirts for sale that depicted just the outline of his thick-rimmed glasses and his big bushy beard. I just might have to order one on my next payday. 
Wednesday March 18, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:13AM CST on March 18, 2009
When I had lunch this past weekend with a couple of friends from college (one of whom is a senior this year), they recounted the disturbing events of their previous evening.
They had headed out to The District with a group of girls. While they were seated at the bar in one establishment, a man who walked up next to one of them was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, despite the fact it was well past midnight. The man then proceeded to get closer and closer to my friend until he had somehow weaseled his leg onto her bar stool. She was creeped out and tried to ignore him, which became impossible when he began rubbing her shoulders. Keep in mind that she had never seen this guy before and that they had not exchanged a single word. She sternly told him to take his hands off her, but he kept trying to get closer and closer. The bartender eventually stepped into the situation and the guy left, or so they thought. When they departed — thankfully in a group — he was standing outside. The girls said they’ve been running into these “creepers” at a disturbingly frequent rate lately. Now I know there are plenty of nice guys out there who are much more tactful when it comes to getting chatting up a woman at a bar, but have any of you ladies recently had similar experiences? Are you noticing an increase in the frequency of encounters with these so-called “creepers?” I once interviewed a woman who said she enjoyed going to Uptown Neighborhood Bar and Grill in Bettendorf because she didn’t have to worry about feeling like she was in the middle of a meat market, so maybe there are a variety of factors at work. And how about you guys? Have you ever run into a woman at at bar who was so pushy it made you uncomfortable? Wednesday March 11, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:44PM CST on March 11, 2009
Singer/songwriter Howie Day, who left Bangor, Maine, for the coffeehouse scene in Boston, is coming to the Redstone Room, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. Day is planning to release an album later this year to follow up on his 2003 release “Stop All the World Now.” Nick Zuber will open for Day at the show tonight. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. For teens Parents can drop their kids off for an all-night skate from 6 p.m. Friday, March 13, to 6 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at Skate City QCA and Laser Tag Alley, 1140 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline. Playing on the theme of Friday the 13th, there will be 13-cent specials at the snack bar. The evening is $31 and includes a free skate rental, two games of laser tag, dinner and breakfast. For more information, call (309) 755-5219. For the family The YMCA is hosting a Swim the Mississippi challenge this year. Participants have the entire year to swim 2,124 laps, or 59 miles. Each lap will count for 40 river miles, and participants can use kickboards and flippers to help meet the challenge. Register for the program at any Scott County YMCA and swim any day or time. The cost to participate is $15 and includes an “I swam the Mississippi” T-shirt. She said what? Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls kick off the evening round of local bands with a set time of 5:15 p.m. during the St. Patrick’s celebration Saturday, March 14, at Kelly’s Irish Pub in Davenport. Four bands are scheduled after them, but leader singer Liz Treiber is feeling the heat. “Although we may not seem like the headliner, all the people that are going to be there are going to be the least drunk when we play. The pressure is on.” Thursday February 12, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 12:53PM CST on February 12, 2009
 Show to see The Little Ones, whose recent stints included a Tuesday night performance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” will make a stop Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Redstone Room, 129 Main St. The indie pop band that incorporates tambourines and hand claps into its music, released “Morning Tide,” its first full-length album, last year. Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the show at 8. Cover is $7. For teens High school students can see the spring fashions in prom dresses and tuxedos from five area shops at the second Q-C Prom Fashion Expo. The event will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, at Davenport Central High School, 1120 Main St. Admission is $5. For more information, call Merriam Rink at (563) 210-1257. For the family Students in grades 1-6 will construct a building made of blocks, string, rock and aluminum foil at the Block Kids Building Contest. Pre-registration is recommended and can be made by calling (563) 344-4106. The event will be 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Bettendorf Family Museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive. He said what? Jeff McGrath, who plays guitar, organ, runs samples and provides the vocals for Thank You, said the band’s only goal is to keep writing more music. “It’s pretty incredible when you think about it. A song doesn’t exist and then a song, with the help of a few people, all of a sudden, does exist.” Click here to read the Quad-City Times story on Thank You. Wednesday February 4, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:42PM CST on February 4, 2009
Brooklyn-based KaiserCartel will perform in a Daytrotter Presents show at 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5 at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. The all-ages show also features Omaha, Neb., band Thunder Power. The show begins at 5 p.m. and admission is $5. For those who are 21 years and older with an extra $4 to spend, Peoria, Ill., band Mindset Evolution takes the stage at 10 p.m. tonight. For the family Children in kindergarten through third grade can write and illustrate stories at the Reading Rainbow writing workshop, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Rock Island Public Library, 401 19th St. The children will learn about the concepts of character, plot, setting and brainstorming. Pre-registration is required and can be made by calling (309) 732-7323. For teens The Davenport Public Library's Teen Volunteer Council gives area teens the opportunity to get involved in their community. The council helps provide programming and materials for teens. The next meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Davenport Public Library-Fairmount Street, 3000 N. Fairmount. The event is free. He said what? Benjamin Taylor, the only son of music megastars James Taylor and Carly Simon, had been billed simply as Ben Taylor for his first four albums, but he went to the long version of his name for the fifth, “The Legend of Kung Folk, Part One (The Killing Bite).” “I feel like I’m growing up quick and I might as well use all the syllables I’ve been given,” Taylor, 32, said. To read a story on Taylor published in the Quad-City Times, click here. Wednesday January 28, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:25AM CST on January 28, 2009
I realized this as I watched the Chicago rap group Animate Objects perform Friday night at RIBCO. The group featured two emcees, a DJ, a keyboard player, a drummer, and a guitar and bass player. The result was a sophisticated rap that was much more impressive sonically and visually than a guy bouncing around on stage with a microphone as a pre-recorded beat streams across the PA system. Animate Objects still rapped about ridin’ and rising above your troubles, and gave shout-outs to members of the band the in the stereotypical way that any rap group would. But the presence of backing talent seems to be what made the difference between getting booked at RIBCO and getting booked at the Chorus Line. Wednesday January 21, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:48PM CST on January 21, 2009
Each week I write up four briefs to highlight entertainment events that we didn't have space to write full stories on in Go&Do. We affectionately refer to the briefs as "Quads" and they never quite make it online, so I figured my blog would be a good place to publish them at. So here are your Quads for the week. Show to seeChicago hip hop and funk band Animate Objects released its EP “Dubs, Grunts and Things” earlier this month as a free download. The move to give their music away for free was so that Animate Object fans could spend the money on seeing the band live, instead of on their latest record. In addition to giving their music away for free, RIBCO is also offering anyone who knows this week’s password $1 off cover, bring the price to $4. To get the weekly passwords, sign up for RIBCO’s e-mail list at ribco.com or add them as a friend at myspace.com/ribcomusic. Iowa City band The Uniphonics will open for Animate Objects. Doors open at 9 p.m. with music starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23. RIBCO is located at 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. He said what? Andy Lank, manager of Carriage Haus and Kilkenny’s in downtown Davenport on the new shuttle bus for college students the two bars are running along with Mac’s Tavern and Shenanigan’s. “It’s one of those things where I think it will take two weeks to build and then it’ll be big.” The bus transported more than 200 students to and from the bars during it’s first weekend in business. For more on the shuttle, click here. For the family The Quad-City Rollers will start off its first full season of competition with Red, White and Bruises at Beyond the Baseline, 1540 W. 12th St., Davenport. The women of the Quad-City Rollers will compete in a roller derby bout against another team from the region. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. Children 12 years old and younger are free. The bout begins at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23. For teens The first meeting of the Young Writer’s Guild of the Quad-Cities will be at 3 p.m., Jan. 24. At the first meeting, the group plans to set a schedule of meetings which should include two Saturdays and one weeknight a month at the Midwest Writing Center, 225 E. 2nd St., Suite 303, Davenport. Saturday’s meeting will also feature an introduction goals and methods of writing with writing exercises. The meeting is free. For more information call (563) 324-1410 or visit midwestwritingcenter.org. Sunday January 18, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 1:33PM CST on January 18, 2009
I was really looking forward to seeing William Elliott Whitmore yesterday at RIBCO for a Daytrotter presents show. But thanks to our frigid temperatures on Thursday evening I had to postpone a ride-along on a new shuttle bus to get Ambrose and Palmer students to downtown Davenport until Saturday.
I had planned to be off the bus in time for Whitmore’s set, but forgot about my tendency to get carsick when I started the story. The combination of writing while sitting in the luxury, leather lounge seats that rocked back and forth with each turn and hill, left me struggling to hold in my dinner.
When I did get off, after the driver had filled up his tip jar (an empty beer pitcher) in under an hour, I was so sick I could barely make it to my car let alone head over to RIBCO. So I want to hear from you all about the show. There was a lot of great local and national talent booked. Did they artists and bands live up to their reputations?
I at least have the opportunity to redeem myself tonight with a belated Christmas party at RIBCO and another Daytrotter show featuring Local Natives, The Union Line and Voxhaul Broadcast.
If you go
What: Local Natives, The Union Line and Voxhaul Broadcast
When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18
Where: Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor, 223 18th St., Rock Island
How Much?: $7
Information: daytrotter.com
Tuesday December 23, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:02PM CST on December 23, 2008
I was very thankful that I ran out of time to peruse thrift stores this weekend for a hideous ugly sweater because nobody wore one to the A Very Sexy X-Mas party featuring and Ugly Sweater Party at Nan’s Piano Bar on Tuesday night.
There was one couple wearing holiday sweaters, but the sweaters were nowhere near gaudy enough to fit the theme. I opted not to risk possibly offending the couple and just assumed their wardrobe choice was a coincidence rather than an attempt at an ugly sweater. However my disappointment at the chance to relive my college days at a theme party quickly faded when Tim Stopulos picked up his guitar. The Bettendorf native turned Chicago musician filled the piano bar with his warm voice, impressive range and dynamic guitar and piano styling. Stopulos played mostly covers, but his acoustic renditions of John Mayer’s “Why Georgia,” Justin Timberlake’s “Until the End of Time,” and The Killer’s “Mr. Brightside” were far more organic and enjoyable than the originals. Just as impressive as Stopulos’ performance was the standing room only crowd that filled the piano bar on a cold weeknight with snow in the forecast. These days I hear more managers and owners complaining about the weather and economy keeping customers out of their establishments, but Nan’s clearly isn’t having any problems bringing in a crowd. To keep their patrons rolling in Nan’s will start offering dueling pianos every Friday and Saturday nights starting Friday, Jan. 2. Nan’s will also institute a ladies night on Thursdays starting Jan. 8 and Jesse Anderson, general manager of the Freight House, said it’s not just going to be drink specials that the ladies can win, but the piano bar will give away a Coach purse every week. And in an issue close to my heart, Nan’s is also going to host more theme nights in the future, which means it’s time to dig out the bin in my basement filled with all the costumes I amassed during my days at Augustana. Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Thursday December 18, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:27AM CST on December 18, 2008
The District was dead in the early evening hours of Saturday except for RIBCO, which welcomed a healthy crowd to the Love Is All and Crystal Stilts performances.
Love Is All, which recently received glowing reviews from Spin and Blender magazines for its release “A Hundred Things Keep Me Up at Night,” did not disappoint. Josephine Olausson, on vocals and keyboard for the Swedish band, kept the crowd engaged throughout the 45-minute set and proved to be just as much fun live as she sounds like on the CD. I love her voice, which is very soft when she speaks but turns into an updated version of ‘80s pop, marked by staccato words and phrases in different pitches, when singing. The crowd surrounded the stage and was clearly having a good time, which is always easier to do when you can tell the band members are enjoying themselves, too, as Love Is All was Saturday. And while most Daytrotter shows have an intimate feel to them because they are held nearby at Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor, the concert atmosphere that RIBCO provided only helped to enhance the show. I wasn’t as impressed with the Crystal Stilts. I enjoyed their music, but couldn’t understand a word singer Brad Hargett said. I just have a hard time connecting with a band when I can’t make out what it is they’re singing about. I’m sure my preferences regarding diction come from the vocal exercises my college choir director made us practice over and over again so that all our consonants and vowels wouldn’t get lost. Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Wednesday December 10, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 4:15PM CST on December 10, 2008
The only time Thorn took a break was to step aside while one of the other members showed off their jazz chops on the drums, bass, guitar or tenor saxophone. Thorn’s rap and hip hop laid over the rest of the band’s jazz and funk sounds, while not a typical musical combination, works for The Uniphonics. The catchy riffs and lyrics that always circle back to some mention of Iowa City, or IC, have a way of supporting each other. One particularly entertaining song was “Iowa City,” in which Thorn lists off a plethora of night spots the band has played at and I somehow have managed to visit in the two trips I’ve made to the college town. He then makes the case that Iowa City is the place to be, not Chicago, Madison, Wis., St. Paul, Minn., or any other major Midwest city. In an interview to preview the show, The Uniphonics referred to “Iowa City” as the anthem the city needed. The Uniphonics will be back at RIBCO on January 23, with Animate Objects. Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Thursday December 4, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:06AM CST on December 4, 2008
More often than not, I come across bands that are either good live or good in the studio. My favorite country group, the Drew Davis Band, falls into this category. They put on an amazing live show, but they have trouble capturing the same intensity in the studio.
But the Quad-City band Chrash Flood proved Saturday night that it can deliver on both fronts. Chrash Flood just released its third album, “The Name They Change,” with Future Appletree Studio 1. Chris Bernat, the lead singer, credits Pat Stolley for the record’s sound, and Stolley was on hand at RIBCO to run sound for the band’s CD release show. The instruments and vocals were at just the right level so each part was clearly audible, with no one member trying to show off. This was most evident in Paul Blomquist’s performance on drums, which was crisp without being overpowering. Bernat also demonstrated enunciation skills I’ve only heard previously in classically trained vocalists. No matter the volume or intensity of his voice, I could understand every word and hear every consonant. Add to that his ability to steadily stay on pitch during elongated vowels and emotion-filled expressions and you have one quality performer. At the CD release party, Chrash Flood performed “The Wish Song,” “Aging Aircraft” “American Spirit,” “Raised by Gays,” “The Excess Parade” and “Clap Jordan,” all off “The Name They Change.” The band also performed “Spin Cycle Brainwash,” one of four new songs it has written since recording “The Name They Change” last year. Since adding Eric Stone on keyboard and guitar over the summer, Chrash Flood has put more space into its songs. The effect was positive, giving the tunes room to breathe, and the songs are still true interpretations of the album. For more information about Chrash Flood, check out previous stories published by the Quad-City Times on the band. Chrash releases optimist rock record, finds new sound - Published Nov. 24, 2008 Chrash Flood's entry on the Quad-City Times band database Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com.Wednesday November 26, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:30AM CST on November 26, 2008
By Stephanie De Pasquale Icons, a new martini bar, opened in place of Copia this past Thursday, and one of the first orders of business for co-owners Phil Woodward and Dave Phillips was to lower prices. Martinis have been reduced 50 cents to $7.50 and $9. Beer is also down 50 cents to $3 for domestics, $3.50 for imports and $4 for aluminum bottles. Mixed drinks and shots have been lowered by $2 to $5, depending on the drink. While $9 can easily be perceived as pricey for one drink, Woodward is quick to point out that the $9 martinis are made with 7 1/2 ounces of pure alcohol, whereas a Captain and Coke only contains one ounce of alcohol. When you do the math, it would take more than seven mixed drinks to match the alcohol content, and that price would be easily more than $9, Woodward said. The specialty $7.50 martinis contain just a bit more than 5 1/2 ounces of alcohol, by the way. Icons also will offer selected martinis for $5 Tuesday through Thursday. Check out the whole story about Icon’s opening here. If you go What: Icons When: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays Where: Copia, 124 18th St., Rock Island Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Monday November 24, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 4:29PM CST on November 24, 2008
UPDATE: The story on Chrash Flood's CD release party at RIBCO and two songs off the band's new album "The Name They Change" are online now. You can check them out here.
The front cover features a drawing by Johnnie Cluney, a local musician and illustrator for Daytrotter.com, a Web site run in Rock Island that records up and coming bands and offers free downloads of the recording sessions. The Web site has been featured in Rolling Stone and Wired magazines. Cluney’s cartoonish style that is prominent on the pages of Daytrotter, carried over to Chrash’s cover art and looks like it belongs on the Web site. Bernant said the look works to their every advantage. “I love the colors. I love that we look like cartoon characters,” said Bernant. “I think that having this in the package and on this cool CD, it actually sounds better. Whether it sounds any different than the CD copy I have from the masters, I doubt it. But to me it does sound better when you have this. “You’re more likely to keep this in your collection and listen to it because you have this piece.” For more on Chrash and the CD release show at RIBCO, visit qctimes.com/goando on Thursday or pick up a copy of the same day’s Quad-City Times. If you go What: Chrash CD release party with guests Meth and Goats, Idpyramid and Centaur Noir. When: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 Where: RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island How much: $5 Information: ribco.com On the Web: myspace.com/chrashmusic Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com.
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:49PM CST on November 24, 2008
Thanksgiving is a day for families, but the day after seems to be a time for catching up with old friends who have come back into town.
I know I’ve already talked about getting together with a friend who moved away a little more than a year ago and is coming back to the Quad-Cities to visit family. We haven’t talked about the details yet, but we went to the Carriage Haus and Kilkeny’s when he was back in town last year. Who are you all getting together with? And are you going to your old hangouts or trying a new place? Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Thursday November 20, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 6:20PM CST on November 20, 2008
The Post Mortems and The Hue both are “missing” something. The Post Mortems perform without a guitar player and The Hue doesn’t have a vocalist.
No, the bands scheduled to perform Friday at RIBCO didn’t each have a member quit just before this weekend’s show. Neither band has ever filled, or wanted to fill, the “missing” position. Rather, each has discovered ways to fill the void of the normally essential positions by creatively implementing the instruments they do have. For the Post Mortems, a Quad-City band, bassist Devin Alexander has foregone the traditional cabinet-and-amplifier setup and instead employs multiple pedals and splits the signal, creating two distinct sounds from one instrument. “I had sort of a collection of effects pedals and things like that, and I’ve always been really interested in ways of amplifying an instrument,” he said. “It got to the point where my bass rig was so complex that it was more than one instrument by itself.” As for The Hue, the self-professed “music school nerds” challenged themselves by writing highly technical songs that replace the vocal melody with instrumentation. “We’ve never really had the notion that a band has to have a singer,” said Jared Rabin, guitar player for The Hue. “We’ve had to stretch our creativity in terms of compositions to write stuff that isn’t just jam, jam, jam, but to actually write stuff that is thoughtful melodies that you might hear a singer filling that role usually.” The Post Mortems and The Hue will perform at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island, at 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Cover is $5. For more information, visit The Post Mortems or The Hue. If you go What: The Hue, with The Post Mortems When: 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 Where: RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island How much: $5 Information: ribco.com On the Web: myspace.com/huemusic, myspace.com/thepostmortems Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Wednesday November 19, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:12PM CST on November 19, 2008
The dance club Dolce is gone and the piano bar, jazz feel of Below Brady is back.
Below Brady co-founder Matt Somers said a new group of partners repurchased the bar and Starting Line it was originally sold 14 months ago. The new ownership team has already changed management, employees and the menu at Starting Line, but reopening Below Brady was their first priority. The new owners brought back the cool blue lighting and replaced the DJ with live music that will always have a jazz feel. Somers said Below Brady will also have all new martini recipes that will be blended with each order. “We’re doing everything different than Dolce,” Somers said. “It’s not going to be that thump, thump, thump. It’s going to be the Rat Pack.” The Craig Bentley Trio performed on Friday at Below Brady for an event to celebrate the reopening. Their smooth jazz that you could still have a conversation over was a far cry from the booming loud disc jockey at Dolce, but it fit much better with the martini bar concept. It definitely would be a good place for those who still want to go out, but have outgrown the clubs. Below Brady is modeled after Chicago martini and piano bars, and while there are plans to buy a baby piano, Somers said Below Brady doesn’t plan to compete with Nan’s Piano Bar and will stick to local talent. “It’s a great place to bring a client, spouse or a significant other if you really want to impress somebody,” Somers said. “I always like to say it’s a little bit of Chicago. ... It’s not your grandfather’s speakeasy, but it has the feeling of a speakeasy bar.” Below Brady will have its grand reopening on Wednesday, Nov. 26. If you go What: Below Brady grand reopening When: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. with live music at 8 p.m. Regular hours will be 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Where: 217 Brady St., Davenport How much: Free Information: (563) 323-5455 Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. |
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